“I believe,” said Alick Keith, “that I am to have the honour of dining at the Homestead on Monday?”
“Yes. The Greys spend the day with us, and it is Emily’s due to have a good sight of you.”
“Then will you let me in the meantime take my own measures with regard to these designs. I will not hurt or injure them in any way; they shall be deposited here in Miss William’s hands, and I promise you that if I have been able to satisfy myself as to the means of their production, Simon Skinflint shall become a subscriber to the F. U. E. E. Is it a bargain?”
“I never made such a bargain,” said Rachel, puzzled.
“Is that a reason for not doing so?”
“I don’t know what you mean to do. Not to molest that poor Mrs. Rawlins. I will not have that done.”
“Certainly not. All I ask of you is that these works of art should remain here with Miss Williams, as a safe neutral, and that you should meet me here on Monday, when I will undertake to convince myself.”
“Not me?” cried Rachel.
“Who would make it part of his terms to convince a lady?”
“You mean to say,” exclaimed Rachel, considerably nettled, “that as a woman, I am incapable of being rationally convinced!”